Bethsaida, Narava

AMG Leprosy Relief and Rehabilitation Center at Narava village, Vizianagaram named Bethsaida was started in the year 1979. The leprosy victims of the Project are engaged in some activities in which they are experienced. Such an engagement shall keep them physically and mentally active besides giving them satisfaction on seeing the results of their labour.

The leprosy victims of the colony are given monthly supports. Those who are totally crippled and unable to do any work due to their physical deformities are totally looked after in the Custodial Care Units. There are two separate Custodial Care Units for male and female leprosy victims. AMG gives them food, clothing and all other amenities including medical aid free of cost. There are 50 leprosy patients in both the Care Units (25 each in the male and female Care Units).

Six children are studying in our AMG Residential English Medium School, Bheemunipatnam. Another 16 children are studying in local schools. Yet another one female child is studying Nursing Course with help from AMG. The leprosy victims are given 2 pairs of clothes, 2 bed sheets to inmate of Custodial Care Units and 1 to other leprosy victims of the Colony and 1pair of M.C.R. Chappals every year. They live happily in the Project and are thankful to Almighty God. They are grateful to the Donors for helping them to regain their self-respect and dignity.

Three male and two female children of the inmates have been married during the period under the report. Two male and three female inmates died due to ripe old age or prolonged diseases. New patients had been taken on strength in the place of the demised leprosy victims.

LEPROSY REHABILITATION CLINIC:

There is a separate Clinic in the project for the treatment of leprosy victims and their dependents. The inmates of the Project availed treatment at the Clinic for 12,859 times during the period June 2008 to May 2009. A total No. of 10,986 dressings has been made to the inmates during the above period.

FREE CLINIC FOR NORMAL PATIENTS OF SURROUNDING VILLAGES : There is a Free Clinic for medical treatment of villagers from 9 surrounding villages. They are given medicines free of cost at this Free Clinic. On an average, 40 villagers come to the clinic every day. A total of 3,753 patients from the surrounding villages availed treatment at the hospital during the period June 2008 to May 2009.

HOSPITAL AND FREE CLINIC STAFF:

There is one qualified Medical Officer and two A.N.Ms. In addition some of the leprosy victims work as Hospital Workers such as Dressers, O.P. Assistants etc. The normal people from surrounding villages who come for medical treatment interact with the leprosy victims thus enabling the leprosy victims to get rid of their social stigma and live on equitable terms along with the normal people.

AGRICULTURAL FARM:

AMG Bethsaida is spread over 48 acres of land. Out of this, we have set apart 28 acres of land for agricultural purpose. Normally we grow paddy as the main crop in the agricultural land. This crop is dependent on rainfall. We have sowed the paddy seedlings in 25 acres. This year the monsoon was near-normal. Hence we could sow and reap a good crop of paddy, cereals, vegetables, etc. We have a plantain grove in a strip of two acres. We have also sowed red gram in a strip of two acre. Cattle feed is raised in one acre.

We are also raising vegetables such as lady fingers, brinjals, beans, tomatoes etc. Some of the vegetables grown in the agricultural farm are supplied to the Custodial Care Unit kitchen of the Project and also AMG Residential Hostel, Bheemunipatnam. The farm is ploughed with the Project tractor. The driver of the tractor is a leprosy victim of the Project.

There are 26 she-buffaloes, and 6 he-buffaloes. All of them are fully grown and there are 6 calves in the Project. Of the 26 she-buffaloes, 8 are milk-yielding. Some of the rehabilitated leprosy victims who work as Agricultural Workers attend to the cultivation works of the AMG Agricultural Farm.

TRICYCLES: Two tricycles belonging to the inmates were worn out. We provide help to these inmates for having their bicycles repaired.

ARTIFICIAL LIMBS:

One leprosy patient underwent “below the knee” amputation. The leprosy victims prefer to acquire artificial limbs, which are supplied at Leprosy Hospitals at Salur and Jaipur, Rajasthan State. We extend financial help to such of those who go in for artificial limbs.

Artificial limbs were given to two patients whose artificial limbs are damaged due to wear and tear. A few others were also given financial help for repairing their own artificial limbs, which were procured by them in the earlier years.

EYE SURGERIES AND EYE TEST:

Leprosy victims who are affected with eye complications are referred to the Regional Eye Hospital, Visakhapatnam. They are provided the necessary treatment/surgery at the Hospital. This year four Leprosy victims underwent surgeries for the removal of cataract. Another seven Leprosy victims were provided financial assistant by AMG towards procuring spectacles for setting right their ophthalmic disorders.

SUNDAY SCHOOL AND SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE:

Sunday school followed by Worship Service is conducted every Sunday in the Community hall-cum-Church. There is a Church Pastor in the Colony. Many of the leprosy victims heard the Truths of the Gospel and accepted Lord Jesus as their personal Savior and baptized. The younger children are taught Biblical parables and also Hymns Praising Lord Jesus. The inmates attend Revival Meetings as and when they are conducted in and around the Project.